What Linux distribution/USB prep tool should I be using? Mind you, I don't need to boot into a graphical Linux, just the command line is good enough and less likely to hit the GPU issue.

Boot my Mac from a bootable Linux USB, mount the HD and move those AMD*.kext using Linux, thereby forcing use of the Intel graphics?Īnyone have any experience doing such a thing? A particular challenge I have is that I'd have to prep the bootable USB from a Windows or Linux machine, as my Mac is stuck in single-user mode.

(as far as just the SIP issues goes: is correct: Cmd + R + S, at least on Sierra, gets you recovery and single user and you can csrutil disable from there). which fails because it is a graphical environment and I have a failing GPU. I followed these instructions: In this MacRumours thread you can find a procedure to disable the discrete GPU by modifying the EFI variables. I just installed Ubuntu 14.04 on mine and its working correctly.

SIP can only be disabled in Recovery mode. Yes, you can user Linux on a 2011 Macbook Pro that has a defective discrete GPU. crutils disable, to disable SIP, won't work in Single User mode.

Unfortunately, the System/Library/Extensions directory fall under Sierra's SIP protection so I can't carry out those instructions.

Basically, boot into Single User mode and move some of AMD*.kext files from /System/Library/Extensions/ elsewhere.

You can revert to using just the internal Intel graphics. My local repair shop, which is usually pretty handy, says it can't fix it. This has been a known problem, and Apple addressed with an extended warranty on these models's GPUs, which ended Dec 31st 2016. This is what I understand from my research: For now, the MBP is working properly again.My trusty MBP 17' 2011 is now hitting the failing AMD GPU issues. By the beginning of July, Apple finally approved to replace the logic board for free. So they let me fill in a form and send it in along with my receipt. However, thanks to EU consumer laws, I have the right of up to 3 years warranty if I could prove that it's the manufacturer's fault. Once again, I took it to the shop, they concluded that it was a faulty logic board, which would cost me a fortune to replace. It seemed to work fine for a while but after that, the glitches started to reappear, and it became so bad that the MBP couldn't boot into OS X or Windows (stuck on grey screen with glitchy stripes). (Although as far as I can remember, the friend of mine who installed the SSD for me did indeed wear the bracelet, however I probably didn't use it when I installed RAM 1,5 years ago) I took the MBP to a different store where they concluded that it was a faulty HDD cable since I had installed the SSD myself and they assumed it got some kind of shock for me not wearing an ESD bracelet. Since people are still commenting on this, I will post what happened as my answer:

2011 macbook pro gpu fix